The military-led government of Burkina Faso has endorsed a draft law to bring back the death penalty for serious crimes, reversing its 2018 abolition in a step that underscores the nation’s deepening instability.
Targeted Offenses
The proposed legislation would apply to:
- Treason and espionage
- Terrorism and related acts
Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala called it a vital reform that matches the “profound wishes” of Burkina Faso’s citizens.
Path to Law
- Transitional parliament must debate and pass the bill
- Courts will then review before it takes effect
Context of the Push
The junta, which took control via a 2022 coup, is grappling with escalating violence from Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates. The country of 23 million has seen repeated attacks that have killed thousands and displaced millions.
To tackle the chaos, leaders have:
- Scrapped the independent election commission
- Delayed polls indefinitely
- Suspended foreign media over coverage of alleged mass killings
- Detained several journalists
Rights groups denounce these steps as abuses and efforts to silence criticism, viewing the death penalty revival as another tool to tighten control in the volatile Sahel.
